Common Name: beardtongue
Type: Herbaceous perennial
Family: Plantaginaceae
Zone: 3 to 8
Height: 3.00 to 4.00 feet
Spread: 2.00 to 3.00 feet
Bloom Time: April to June
Bloom Description: Lavender pink
Sun: Full sun
Water: Dry to medium
Maintenance: Low
Suggested Use: Rain Garden
Flower: Showy, Good Cut
Leaf: Colorful
Attracts: Hummingbirds, Butterflies
Tolerate: Deer, Drought, Clay Soil, Dry Soil
Culture
Best grown in average, dry to medium moisture, well-drained soil in full sun. Tolerant of occasional drought and inundation once established. Can be grown in clay soils but avoid overly wet, poorly drained conditions.
Noteworthy Characteristics
Penstemon digitalis, commonly called foxglove beardtongue, is a clump-forming, Missouri-native perennial which typically grows 3-5' tall and occurs in prairies, fields, wood margins, open woods and along railroad tracks. Features white, two-lipped, tubular flowers (to 1.25" long) borne in panicles atop erect, rigid stems. Flowers bloom mid-spring to early summer and are attractive to hummingbirds, butterflies, and other pollinators. Basal leaves are elliptic and stem leaves are lance-shaped to oblong.
Genus name comes from the Greek words penta meaning five and stemon meaning stamen in reference to each flower having five stamens (four are fertile and one is sterile).
Specific epithet comes from the Latin digitus meaning finger for flowers that look like the finger of a glove.
Penstemon is sometimes commonly called beard tongue because the sterile stamen has a tuft of small hairs.
'Pocahontas' was introduced by Intrinsic Perennial Gardens of Hebron, Illinois. It was bred from a Penstemon digitalis selection with dark burgundy red foliage as the female parent and Penstemon digitalis ‘Pink Dawn’ as the male parent. It has burgundy red stems with dark burgundy leaves and clusters of tubular lavender pink flowers. ‘Pocohontas’ grows 3 to 4 ft. tall and 2 to 3 ft. wide. U.S. Plant Patent #24,804 awarded August 19, 2014.
Problems
Root rot can occur in wet, poorly-drained soils. Leaf spots are occasional problems. Can spread somewhat aggressively in a garden setting. Deer tend to avoid this plant.
Uses
Mass in sunny borders, rain gardens, wild gardens, native plant gardens or naturalized areas. Excellent for fresh cut flower arrangements.